Widescreen Gaming Forum

This is sad, really.

Microsoft has officially canceled the PC version of former PC exclusive Alan Wake, which should surprise no one. They want everyone to have an Xbox, they want to rule the livingroom, this is no surprise. What IS a surprise is their fake reason for not releasing the game on PC:

“Some games are more suited for the intimacy of the PC, and others are best played from the couch in front of a larger TV screen. We ultimately realised that the most compelling way to experience “Alan Wake” was on the Xbox 360 platform, so we focused on making it an Xbox 360 exclusive. Both Microsoft and Remedy have long histories in PC game development. This decision was about matching this specific game to the right platform.”

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/02/12/alans-wake-remedy-ditch-pc-version/

Now, that sounds just like something I would read on a gaming forum about why the PC sucks, "Dude I want to plays it on my awesum HDTV with my couch!", followed by something about spending $2,000 a month on PC hardware. If you can't just say "we want you to buy an Xbox" then just shut up about it, they didn't feel the need to make some ignorant comment about couches and TVs when they ignored Fable 2 and Halo 3 potential on PC.

Also, of course, you can play PC games on a TV from a couch if you wanted to.

It really is a scary thought that the makers of Windows are some of the worst enemies of PC gaming. Bizarro world!

“Some games are more suited for the intimacy of the PC, and others are best played from the couch in front of a larger TV screen. We ultimately realised that the most compelling way to experience “Alan Wake” was on the Xbox 360 platform, so we focused on making it an Xbox 360 exclusive. Both Microsoft and Remedy have long histories in PC game development. This decision was about matching this specific game to the right platform.”

I haven't come across an excuse that pathetic since I got into bars underage with my fake ID that classified me as a corporate biotech research scientist. :D

That's pretty stupid. Oh look, an eye-roll emoticon: :roll:

Thankfully, I've already lost most of my interest in the game.

I saw this tonight on a game website... it really angers me and I agree it is kinda scary that microsoft hates the pc for games. The sexbox 360 cant delivar the goods ;.. I dont want to play at 720p.. I was looking forward to this game a bit.

I'm so close to completely losing it. Been following Alan Wake for about 5 years. Only game i've actually ever really bothered to stick around on the forums for asides from ones complaining about bugs/DRM.

BUT...

I'm not taking that statement from MS as official until one of the RMD devs says that there is no longer any hope of a PC version.

So still crossing my fingers in hope for a post release 9 months Alan Wake PC version...

Though i do understand that the chances of that happening are quickly dwindling. :cry:

I haven't come across an excuse that pathetic since I got into bars underage with my fake ID that classified me as a corporate biotech research scientist. :D

:lol:

I never once got asked for ID when I was underage... I got carded once when I was 20 (legal drinking age 18 here...) and it wasn't even for buying booze (or any of the other myriad of things that you need an age check for here...)

...

However, back on topic... yeah, it's pathetic of Microsoft.

It makes me wonder what the point of that sad excuse of a "PC Gaming Alliance" is for - it's mostly composed of developers and publishers who couldn't care less about the PC. But Alan Wake I've been getting more and more dubious of each time a new bit of info has crept out about it.

It makes me wonder what the point of that sad excuse of a "PC Gaming Alliance" is for - it's mostly composed of developers and publishers who couldn't care less about the PC.

I honestly forgot that thing even existed. I hope they're not getting paid anything.

Wow really microsoft? Why don't you want to juggle to gaming platforms? Every other major game company (that produces hardware) has two or more. Honestly, it's really bad as a lot of people who play on the pc, also have a console. I personally went to pc because my xbox couldn't deliver what a pc could. I still buy games for my xbox as well as on pc, so why good microsoft are you being so utterly retarded?

Wow really microsoft? Why don't you want to juggle to gaming platforms? Every other major game company (that produces hardware) has two or more. Honestly, it's really bad as a lot of people who play on the pc, also have a console. I personally went to pc because my xbox couldn't deliver what a pc could. I still buy games for my xbox as well as on pc, so why good microsoft are you being so utterly retarded?

I really think it has to do with a long-term agenda of theirs for the living room. Closed systems, account-based ownership... that is where they want to go. The PC is probably seen by the decision makers as something they need to move beyond before they are left behind, that is how they justify spending billions on these consoles despite getting little profit: it's an investment in the future.

On the surface it's like "why can't you release games on both and let those who want ease of use get the console version and those who prefer dealing with issues and hardware for better versions get the PC version?" It makes sense really, support both vastly different platforms seperately and make money off both.

But I think they have a decades long agenda this is only part of.

Perhaps it's because it's not really my kind of game, but all I've seen of it so far together with the now defunct pc version only brings this to my mind: good ridance, one less stinker for the pc's reputation.

I was also NOT surprised by that quote from Microsoft.

Just read between the lines: " well it's taken us so long to make this game, we needed to release it before the XBox 360 lifecycle was over.............we really don't have the time or energy to code it properly for the PC, so tough luck.........and by the way, we really look forward to your $60 dollars."

It's obvious............Microsoft wants to suck every penny out of the XBox they can, and the PC versions just don't sell that many copies, so why bother.

Also wouldn't be the first 'exclusive' that gets a port a few months/years down the line once the 'exclusive' version has brought in enough sales.

Also wouldn't be the first 'exclusive' that gets a port a few months/years down the line once the 'exclusive' version has brought in enough sales.

People always say this like it's a given, but if you look at Microsoft's track record lately I think that is far from true.

[quote]Also wouldn't be the first 'exclusive' that gets a port a few months/years down the line once the 'exclusive' version has brought in enough sales.

People always say this like it's a given, but if you look at Microsoft's track record lately I think that is far from true.
Agreed, where is halo 3? We're definitely in the time window for a halo 3 port.

I wouldn't say Halo is really a 'typical exclusive' so you can't really base a comparison on it.

I mean, the 1st one was ported a long time after it was certain it wouldn't impact the 360's sales, the 2nd one was used to push vista and dx10.

The third one is likely in limbo until it's got a purpose.

I wouldn't say Halo is really a 'typical exclusive' so you can't really base a comparison on it.

I mean, the 1st one was ported a long time after it was certain it wouldn't impact the 360's sales, the 2nd one was used to push vista and dx10.

The third one is likely in limbo until it's got a purpose.

Why not DX11 is on the rise (and looks good too). Plus eyefinity came out, we also have Stereoscopic Gaming, and why not force people to have windows 7? All good things to me.

And it's not just Halo 3, it's Fable 2, Halo Wars, Halo ODST, Gears of War 2, Viva Pinata 2 and more... if EA never bought Bioware Mass Effect would never have been ported either I bet.

Microsoft has finally completely abandoned the PC, it's pretty clear. I mean maybe we will get a port this Christmas, you never know, but I doubt it. The fact they came up with such a lame excuse this time really cements it in my opinion, if they were planning a later port they wouldn't have said jack. Doesn't fit the platform? Really? When it DOES fit the platform, and when Halo Wars fit the PC more than the console but you only released it on console? The whole point of Halo Wars was actually to make RTS work on console so they could stop doing them on PC.

It's just silly, really. They actively support the Xbox and want PC to fail despite being a defacto king in the PC gaming scene. The creator and manager of our entire operating system wants to kill our gaming.

From a "which market segment brings more return" kind of view, it does make sense for em to abandon the pc, at least, the gaming part. Regardless how many "enthusiasts", "gamers", etc on the pc there are, it's not where the money is.

Corporate licenses is. And by quite a few folds more I'd imagine.

Windows isn't made for games, it just happens to have em. Most of it isn't built on that, at least, not when you view it from a return on investment point of view.

It might be different if microsoft was one of the 2 gpu companies, but they aren't.

If tommorow gaming on the pc died, the only direct losers from a financial standpoint would be amd and nvidia, and even then only in the short run, since most of their shares is also with integrated boards in the corporate sectors.

To be honest, I'd rather only keep companies on the pc gaming platform that give a (censored) about the platform to begin with. Maybe in the long run it'll reduce the amount of utter crap being put on it.

I wouldn't say Halo is really a 'typical exclusive' so you can't really base a comparison on it.

I mean, the 1st one was ported a long time after it was certain it wouldn't impact the 360's sales, the 2nd one was used to push vista and dx10.

The third one is likely in limbo until it's got a purpose.

Halo was originally being designed by Bungie to be pc/mac exclusive (MMO 3PS)... then Microsoft bought them out and made it xbox exclusive until gearbox(?) ported it over, not Bungie or Microsoft.


I'm sure you may be able to find some old video's of the Beta builds of halo before it was ported.. I know there are some video card commercials out there with halo before it was xbox exclusive. really, Halo was ported from PC to xbox, then ported to pc from xbox.. the game was just a mess in the end, I'm surprised it did so well.


-Halo before it was Halo (xbox)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7C65ogSLXM&feature=related

-Halo at Macworld 1999
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KqFJ5pPu2g&feature=related

-Halo Geforce 2 trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBM9ywsJ_zY



In closing, don't ever follow a game by Microsoft, they will always disappoint, unless you just don't care what happens to games you get excited about early in, because Microsoft will change everything until it feels like it will sell a lot. I feel bad for Alan Wake.



-Tanshin

As I said, not a typical exclusive.